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New support services for Hampshire's vulnerable 16-21 year oldshttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=672455http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=672455
New support services for Hampshire's vulnerable 16-21 year olds

Friday, 27 Mar 2015

Hampshire County Council has committed over £2 million to support vulnerable young people to become more independent, gain employment and avoid eviction and homelessness.

In addition to accommodation, the support will include providing access to opportunities for young people to gain life and work skills, through training and further education.

Councillor Keith Mans, Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Children's Services at Hampshire County Council, said: "We have a commitment and a duty of care for those in our communities who are vulnerable and need help and protection and we take that very seriously. We want to do the very best we can for those young people who have had a difficult start in life and support them as they make the transition to living independently, as young adults. With professional and caring support, our aspiration for those young people is that they can go on to live safely, comfortably and happily in a home of their own."

Contracts have been awarded to seven organisations who, from 1 April 2015, will work in partnership with the County Council's Children's Services Department to provide targeted services for those in foster or residential care, those leaving care and youth offenders:

The range of accommodation support provided through the new contracts will offer choice about the type of 'next step' accommodation for those moving on from supported care towards independent living. The options include: staged accommodation (shared accommodation and access to a dedicated support worker), supported lodgings (matching a young person to a 'host' who provides a safe and secure environment in their own home) or self-contained accommodation (for those with specific needs and unable to manage in a shared environment).

A Teenage Parents Service will also be established to house both mother and child, enabling them to access parenting services in the community. Additionally, a number of beds will be available for those young people in need of emergency housing and assessment beds.

]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:23:00 GMTHampshire leading the way in working together to improve carehttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=671136http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=671136
Hampshire leading the way in working together to improve care

Monday 16 March 2015

Hampshire is set to lead the way as one of only eight areas that will demonstrate how combining health and social care funding for individuals and allowing them to take control of how it is used can help people to live full and independent lives.

The first wave of the Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme will go live on 1 April 2015. For Hampshire the initial two year programme will focus on improving the experience of care for young people with complex needs aged 14- 25 years old who are moving into adulthood. The programme will work with individuals who have a learning disability, mental health problems or physical conditions. It will also be offered to people over the age of 25 with a learning disability.

The programme will enable people to take control of their combined social care and health and education budget to deliver their person centred support plan developed with the assistance from advocacy and other voluntary sector partners. The IPC is reliant on strong partnership and integration across agencies. The partners involved are Hampshire County Council (Adults and Children's Services) the five Clinical Commissioning Groups and Hampshire Advocacy (HARG) and Independent Lives. Working together with families and people who use services in developing new ways of working will be key to the success of the programme.

The programme aims are:

That people with complex needs and their carers have better quality of life and can achieve the outcomes that are important to them and their families through greater involvement in their care, and being able to design support around their personal needs and circumstances.

The prevention of crises in people⦣8364;s lives that lead to unplanned hospital and institutional care by keeping them well

Enabling people with complex needs to have easier access to personal budgets as alternatives to institutional care, with family carers being supported to remain involved in care of their relative.

Better integration and quality of care, including better user and family experience of care.

Cllr Liz Fairhurst Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Hampshire County Council, said: "The Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme builds on the work Hampshire County Council has already been undertaking to give people greater choice and control over their care and support. It will see an even greater shift in power to people who use these services; helping them to make their own decisions about the support that is right for them. Learning from the programme will help to inform future new approaches for younger adults with disabilities and for older people in Hampshire."

Dr Sarah Schofield, GP and Chair of West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "West Hampshire CCG is delighted that Hampshire has been chosen as one of the first areas to launch the Integrated Personal Commissioning Programme. The programme offers around 5,000 local people with mental health needs, learning or physical disabilities the ability to manage and control both their health and social care. This is an innovative approach to care which will allow us to work with our local partners to offer patients quality services in the right place at the right time."

Alison Flack, Chief Officer, Hampshire Advocacy said: "We believe that IPC will help more people in Hampshire achieve the lives they want. We know this happens when everyone works together and listens to people and their families. IPC will show new ways of working, where services and the money they use to provide support to people is joined up. It's exciting, it's what people have been asking for and it's what services have been working towards."

Philippa Thompson, Echief Executive at Independent Lives, said: "We are delighted to be involved with this exciting and innovative project from the very start. As a user led , disabled people's organisation we have direct experience of the transformation that choice and control over their own care brings to people's lives - with people being happier, healthier and more fulfilled, and more creative about the things they choose to do and places they go. Integrating approaches to healthcare and care in people's homes and communitiescan make a difference."

]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:36:00 GMTTechnology to help the fight against social isolationhttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=671018http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=671018
Technology to help the fight against social isolation

Friday, 13 March 2015

Hampshire County Council and its telecare partner, Argenti are launching three trial schemes using the latest technology to help tackle social isolation among Hampshire's older population.

Stockbridge, Netley and Hayling Island will be the testing ground for a new approach to tackling this growing issue, with a project which aims to identify and work with people who are currently most at risk from the impact of social isolation. The three areas have been identified based on population age profile, numbers living alone, and vehicle ownership.

The overall aim of the project is to support people to re-engage with family and friends, with whom they may have lost touch, as well as with their local community or with one of the many communities of interest to be found online. Each pilot will trial different schemes, with one area focussed on a 'high tech' solution. This is expected to include offering customised tablets with extra large icons which could link to 'speak to my family', and 'monitor my health', as well as newsfeeds tailored to activities in the local area.

Launching the trial, which is due to begin in the spring, County Council Leader, Councillor Perry, said: "Hampshire's over 75s population is growing by 1,000 people each year, and while this increased longer life is welcome, many are living in poor health, with growing numbers feeling isolated in their communities.

"We are seeing the significant benefits that technology can bring in the way we run our business and deliver services. This pilot scheme is a further extension of this approach, and will break new ground by exploring the real opportunities technology can bring to help people connect to areas of interest - specific to them, thereby helping them to do what they want to do."

He added: "I can personally vouch for the huge difference that technology can make in keeping families connected. With my family on the other side of the world, Facetime gives me the opportunity to read my grandchildren bedtime stories, ensuring I remain an active part of their lives, and our superfast broadband programme which has so far connected over 28,000 homes and businesses in Hampshire, will help ensure that even more people living in rural and isolated areas can access superfast broadband services."

The impact of social isolation on an individual's health and wellbeing has been shown to be significant, with a demonstrable effect on mortality. In Hampshire, 20 per cent of the over 65 population are estimated to be 'mildly lonely' (48,674 people), with 8-10 per cent estimated to be 'intensely lonely' (19,470-24,337 people). While there are a number of population groups that are vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, (e.g. young care-leavers, refugees and those with mental health problems), it is widely-recognised that older people (as individuals, as well as carers) often living in rural areas, have specific vulnerabilities owing to loss of friends and family, loss of mobility or loss of income.

Those taking part in the pilot will be identified through the health and social care system, as well as via other public service areas such as Hampshire Constabulary and the Fire and Rescue Service. The pilot will be evaluated over a year and is expected to involve around 30 residents in each trial. Health and social care professionals will be involved as well as volunteers such as the County Council supported Village Agents.

The importance of good nutrition and how it can improve people's quality of life is being highlighted as part of Nutrition and Hydration Week 2015 , supported by Hampshire County Council.

It is estimated that around one million older people in the UK, or around one in ten living in the community, are at risk of malnutrition.

From 16-22 March, 8,400 lunchtime meals and 420 afternoon teas will be delivered by the County Council's meals on wheels service across Hampshire, helping people to access good quality, nutritionally-balanced food throughout the day.

Demand for meals on wheels in Hampshire has doubled since 2013. The Afternoon Tea service was introduced in November 2013 to complement the daily hot lunches served everywhere across the county. It includes a savoury pastry, a sandwich, cake, fruit and a juice drink, and is delivered door to door.

Cllr Liz Fairhurst, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: "Good nutrition and hydration plays a crucial role in helping people stay healthy and independent. A decreasing appetite or reduced ability to buy and prepare healthy foods can mean that older people don't get enough essential vitamins, mineral and fibre, and this can contribute to feeling generally unwell or exacerbate some chronic illness. But with the right support it is preventable, so by raising awareness among Hampshire residents, their families and carers - we can help older people remain healthy and strong.

"It is important that older people in particular stay well hydrated. Dehydration leads to a lowering of blood pressure, dizziness and can often bring on a fall. Having a fall can have a serious impact on anyone's life - but for older people the consequences can be devastating, including a loss of independence, mobility and confidence."

Hampshire County Council's meals on wheels provider, apetito, is a member of the National Association of Care Catering, one of the organisations behind Nutrition and Hydration Week. Stephen Gallagher, Regional Manager at apetito, said "We have seen tremendous growth in demand for meals on wheels in Hampshire since we began running the service on behalf of Hampshire County Council in 2013. In order to serve our customers even more efficiently and to meet future demand, we will shortly despatch meals from four new units, closer to customers, in Fareham, Gosport, Basingstoke and Andover. Our staff add value to the meals on wheels service. Having received training from the Older People's Wellbeing Team at Hampshire County Council, they are able to keep an eye on customers and know how to respond in an emergency. They are more than just drivers."

]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:46:00 GMTHampshire County Council - an employer of choicehttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670679http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670679
Hampshire County Council - an employer of choice

Thursday, 12 March 2015

Hampshire County Council is making sure that it remains an employer of choice - as it transforms the way it delivers public services in response to on-going reductions in central Government funding and growing demand for adults' and children's social care.

At their latest meeting, members of the Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee (EHCC) agreed to examine how the Authority's workforce is responding in a changing public sector landscape in which the Council is positioning itself nationally as a major provider of shared public services.

Chairman of EHCC, Councillor Stephen Reid said: "We've steered the County Council through deep recession and it looks very different to how it did before. It's important that we now take stock and use this opportunity to ensure that the County Council remains well-positioned to retain and attract skilled and talented staff to take the organisation forward as it evolves as a modern business delivering public sector services. We owe a great debt to the hard work and commitment of staff who daily go the'extra mile' to make a positive difference to the residents of Hampshire. We want the County Council to be a place where staff can continue to build their careers, and for the organisation to be an employer of choice - now and in the future.

"The study we are about to undertake follows a motion referred to EHCC from the last Council meeting and I will be inviting all the political parties to participate in the discussions."

A series of reports will be presented to EHCC, later this year, outlining vacancy and staff turnover rates, and recruitment and retention hotspots - such as the social care sector, which is experiencing a national shortage of skilled staff.

Members of the Committee were told how the County Council's overall workforce represents a complicated picture. In some parts of the organisation the workforce is growing as the Council trades and shares services with other public sector partners. In other areas staff numbers are reducing as the Council develops more efficient and innovative ways of working, maximising new technology and streamlining its administrative functions to reduce costs.

Adopting leading edge digital practice combined with a skilled and competent workforce are key aspects of the Council's strategy to future-proof its services. The Council's workforce development plans are building different capabilities, skills and behaviours amongst staff - driving high performance in order to protect services and jobs for the future.

]]>Thu, 12 Mar 2015 09:30:00 GMTTechnology paves the way for greater independence in later lifehttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670371http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670371
Technology paves the way for greater independence in later life

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

Hampshire County Council and its telehealthcare partner Argenti, teamed up recently, to showcase the wide range of cutting edge technology now available to help the county's vulnerable and older people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

The Hampshire Innovate conference at the Guildhall Winchester brought together national and local technology providers with Hampshire health and social care professionals, to demonstrate the technology that is available today, with a 'tomorrow's world' glimpse of what could be available in the future.

Cllr Fairhurst, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, and chair of the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Board commented: "The world of technology is moving rapidly, bringing significant benefits to the way people live their lives. With a fast rising older population in Hampshire, and many people living with long term health conditions, technology is becoming an increasingly critical part of the way we support people to remain living as independently as possible for as long as possible. The difference it can make is often life changing."

Designers and developers showcasing the latest innovations in assistive technology, included Just Checking an easy-to-use online activity monitoring system that helps people who are becoming forgetful stay independent in their own home and gives carers and family peace of mind; Oysta who provide GPS solutions through a range of mobile devices which can automatically raise alerts and ensure an effective response should a problem arise; and remote health monitoring from PA Consulting via its healthcare patch, a low-cost, body-worn health patch sensor that can remotely monitor a patient's critical health indicators as well as check whether they have taken their medication. This information is then sent securely to a physician or caregiver.

The Design Council also presented its three to five year plan Design for Care which will apply world-renowned design talent in a drive to invent and develop new systems, processes, products and services to increase wellbeing, help reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and support people to stay in their own homes for longer.

Steve Carefull, programme director, Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership said: "We have been working closely with the County Council for more than a year, and have seen the huge difference assistive technology is making to the lives of many Hampshire residents. Today's event has enabled us to bring together health and social care professionals to see first hand some of the cutting edge technology now available, and very importantly to help influence the direction that technology companies take in the future in terms of research and development."

]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:24:00 GMTCounty Council aims to build on close working with the Church of England to help vulnerable residentshttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670323http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670323
County Council aims to build on close working with the Church of England to help vulnerable residents

Monday 9 March 2015

The Leader of Hampshire County Council has met with senior members of the Diocese of Winchester to discuss closer working to help families in need and the elderly.

The meeting was to explore further ways that the Church, as one of the largest voluntary organisations in the county, could assist in the work to ensure people needing help have improved and earlier access to the right kind of support that can avoid them reaching crisis points demanding more costly public services.

The Council is increasingly dependent on its work with the voluntary and community sector as it faces £30million increased costs each year due to inflation and the increasing demand for adult and children's social care. At the same time, Government general grant has been cut by 51 per cent since 2008 (the equivalent of a further £25million per year) and the Council must find savings of £100 million by 2017, on top of the £240million it has made so far.

With thousands of volunteer members, the church is already helping the vulnerable in local communities through a number of projects and it's hoped there is potential to expand these with the County Council's backing.

Councillor Roy Perry, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "One of my proudest achievements so far as a Hampshire councillor was helping establish the Hampshire Interfaith Network and becoming its first co-chairman. I want to ensure the County Council's links with all of our faith colleagues are strengthened further for the benefit of Hampshire residents."

Cllr Perry hosted The Bishop of Basingstoke, The Right Rev. David Williams;The Bishop of Southampton, The Right Rev. Jonathan Frost; The Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, Vice-Dean and Canon Chancellor of Winchester Cathedral; and The Reverend Canon Nick Fennemore, Head of Chaplaincy and Bereavement Services, Portsmouth Hospitals.

The clergy heard how a church supported initiative 'ARK', in Eastleigh, is playing a vital crisis support role for vulnerable families across parts of the borough. Through this work the ARK volunteers have helped to support the council's work with 'Troubled Families', providing a range of services including befriending, counselling, practical support and advice and de-cluttering.

Cllr Perry explained that the 'ARK' role in local communities is increasingly important and provides the opportunity for more organised and more consistent 'step-down' and 'step-up' arrangements between public sector organisations and the voluntary sector. In turn, this is likely to mean that early help interventions will have a longer lasting impact meaning families will be better able to live fulfilling and largely independent lives.

Cllr Perry added: "I am very interested in the work being done with the Eastleigh Deanery. We will look at extending the 'ARK' concept into other areas. If the Eastleigh Pilot is successful, the model could be taken and rolled out elsewhere."

After the meeting the Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Southampton, wrote to Cllr Perry to thank him for the briefing.

The Rt Revd Dr Frost wrote: "One of the many encouragements of my life as a Bishop is to encounter good people who are engaged in seeking the common good. I left the Council offices with a strong sense that I had been in the company of an outstanding team who together are doing a quite remarkable job for us all in the county."

]]>Mon, 09 Mar 2015 12:35:00 GMTE-Cigarette users helped to quit this No Smoking Day http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670157http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=670157
E-Cigarette users helped to quit this No Smoking Day

Thursday, 05 March 2015

Make No Smoking Day (11 March) the day you start to stop. The first day without cigarettes is often the hardest - but with free support from Quit4Life, Hampshire's NHS Stop Smoking Service, you are up to four times more likely to keep your first 24 hours smokefree.

Thinking about or trying to reduce your smoking by using an e-cigarette? Quit4life is one of the first "e-cigarette friendly" NHS stop smoking services in the country. It offers free support and advice to users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to beat the habit as well as help make sure any medical conditions are monitored. Trained advisers answer questions on a range of products which help you quit smoking, while additional one-to-one or group support increases your chances of quitting smoking and staying quit.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said:"I would encourage any smoker to quit for No Smoking Day and join the 5,000 plus Hampshire residents who signed up to quit during Stoptober last year. No Smoking Day is another great opportunity to quit and a chance to improve the health and wealth of you and your family."

Quitting reduces your risk of heart disease and developing lung cancer, improves your general fitness and increases your sense of taste and smell. Your pocket will be healthier too, with most smokers who quit saving on average around £150 a month. You will also protect the health of your family by reducing their exposure to secondhand smoke.

For help to quit smoking or advice on e-cigarettes, contact Quit4Life on 0845 602 4663, text: QUIT to 60123 or visit www.quit4life.nhs.uk. The Service provides free confidential advice and support for smokers of all ages through drop-in sessions, one-to-one help and a dedicated telephone support service with free patches and gum or a one-off prescription payment.

With a responsibility for Public Health, Hampshire County Council works in partnership with other organisations across the county to reduce the overall levels of smoking in Hampshire by:

]]>Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:00:00 GMTMore people taking up their Hampshire Health Checkhttp://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=669933http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=669933
More people taking up their Hampshire Health Check

Wednesday, 04 March 2015

55 % of those invited for an NHS Health Check in Hampshire are now taking this up. This equates to 11,963 people - almost twice the number attending a check the same time last year.* This means more people are taking action to reduce their risk of developing diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease, strokes and dementia.

Changes made to Hampshire's Health Checks have enabled more people to access their check by asking their GP for an appointment rather than waiting for their personal invitation. Similarly GPs can offer eligible residents a health check at opportune moments.

There are a number of reasons why someone may not take up their health check, so these figures are good news. They show even more Hampshire residents are using their health check as a chance to consider their own health, their lifestyles and how they can enjoy their lives and remain healthy.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Hampshire County Council said: "More residents taking up their health check means that GPs can better support people to stay in good health and maintain their independence for longer. I would urge anyone to take up this offer - the check is quick and easy, provided in your local GP surgery and personal to you. The NHS Health Check helps you to make changes to your lifestyle and reduce your risk of ill health."

Currently people aged 40-74 who haven't already been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease are eligible for an NHS Health Check.

The NHS Health Check is a 20-30 minute health assessment to identify those at risk of serious, but potentially avoidable conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. At the check, you are asked some questions about your lifestyle and family medical history. You'll also have some routine tests, for example blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI will all be checked. At the check you will be able to discuss your results with the health practitioner and talk about what you can do to remain healthy.

]]>Wed, 04 Mar 2015 10:19:00 GMTSuccess for bid to fund social work innovation in Hampshire and Isle of Wight http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=669817http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist.htm?id=669817
Success for bid to fund social work innovation in Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Tuesday, 03 March 2015

Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council have welcomed news that an ambitious bid for funding to transform social care services has been successful.

The Department for Education has confirmed today (3 March 2015) that it is awarding Hampshire and the Isle of Wight almost £4 million from its Innovations Fund in order to reform children's social work.

The funding will be used to introduce a series of measures that challenge the traditional ways of working, significantly reducing bureaucracy while improving outcomes for children in need of care and protection, and reducing spiralling demand for children's social services in the longer term.

Councillor Keith Mans, Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Children's Services at Hampshire County Council, commented: "This is excellent news and is indicative of the Department for Education's confidence in our abilities. We have a proven track record of performance, as recognised by two safeguarding inspections by Ofsted, the most recent in March 2014, that found Children's Services to be 'good' with 'outstanding' elements. Our strategic partnership with the Isle of Wight, Council, that was initiated by the DfE to improve Children's Services on the Island, is showing evidence of making good and steady progress in driving up standards both in children's social services and education."

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight bid sets out seven interlinked elements, which taken together have the potential to remodel social care services across the county and establish a new standard of good practice for other authorities to follow.

These focus on the creation of new specialist family intervention teams, making much better use of voluntary support to reconnect with communities and improving the support to social workers so they have more time to spend with vulnerable children and young people.

Specifically, the elements include:

Creating Family Intervention Teams of practitioners that specialise in domestic abuse, substance misuse or mental health for example, to provide a service for adults but with a clear focus on outcomes for the child;

Building a robust network of volunteers to work with children and families in their communities and support the Family Intervention Teams;

Developing a team of highly skilled administrators to become Social Work Co-ordinators to undertake all the recording for Social Workers and reduce the time that they are office based;

Establish a multi-agency Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Team (MET) specifically to address the needs of children and young people who repeatedly go missing.

The driver for systematic change will be a change in focus, by social care services, moving from the sole needs of the individual child to include those of the child's family. For example, in cases where a child is in need of care or protection because of the parent's actions, such as drug or alcohol addiction, providing support to overcome those problems can avoid a child being taken into care long term, if at all.

The grant will also complement the work of Early Help Hubs and the Supporting Troubled Families programme in providing targeted support for families.

Councillor Mans added: "We have consistently afforded a high level of priority to children's social services yet pressures on the service continue to rise and this will be a continuing challenge in the face of further reductions in government funding. Through this bid, our aim is to develop the foundations for a whole system change to create the right conditions and capacity for professionals to work even more effectively with children and families in order to get it right first time and reduce the number of referrals or repeated interventions."

A budget that will inject hundreds of millions of pounds of new economic activity into Hampshire was finalised by Hampshire County Councillors today.

The Budget for 2015/16 includes a Capital Programme representing £876m spend over four years - the biggest ever investment in jobs and supply chains. It provides resource and capacity to deliver more and better schools places, improved roads, Extra Care homes and superfast broadband.

Council Leader Roy Perry said it was a "careful, cautious and competent budget". It will keep Hampshire in a strong position to tackle the further austerity measures needed to meet the ongoing downward pressures on Local Government funding over the next few years, when revenue savings will become very much harder to find.

Starting early and using transformation programmes to generate significant efficiencies, the Council has worked through a reduction of 51 per cent in general grant from Government since 2010. The job of managing the council's finances had been more difficult than ever.

The revenue budget, which covers the cost of providing services, has had to be reduced by a further 12 per cent in 2015/16 to meet cuts in grant, and to balance demand pressures linked to an ageing population and children in care. As a priority area, additional resources of £12.5m have been built into the Children's Services budgets for vulnerable children in need of support and services. Following consultation, the budget also provides money to sustain the Short Breaks programme for children with disabilities and for youth services, while other sources of funding are explored.

The County's share of the Council Tax has been set at the same level for the sixth year in a row at £1037.88 for a Band D property. The Leader said that, with inflation at 11 per cent in that time, this represented a real term decrease of 9.9 per cent, reducing the call in real terms on stretched household finances.

He said Hampshire County Council was maintaining its record of having one of the lowest levels of Council Tax, while providing some of the highest levels of services and with one of the lowest levels of Government grant per head of population.

"According to Ofsted, our children's services are some of the best in the country. We lead the country in property and shared services, growing an expanded organisation whereby other councils buy increasing levels of professional services from us, allowing us to retain high quality staff and capacity for the benefit of Hampshire residents. The condition of Hampshire roads scores highest with road users, again by independent evaluation" he said.

The Council will need to find further savings of around £100m by 2017, on top of the £240m it is on track to have removed from its expenditure by March 2016 with this budget. The Council will begin consultation in March on a range of options to deliver the right support to residents at the right time and in the best way, which is likely to mean scaling back some areas and doing some things differently. Cllr Perry said more and more partnership working between county, district and town and parish and the voluntary sector was needed to address these pressures.

Referring to the start of work last week on a new £548,000 youth drop-in centre at Ringwood, Cllr Perry said the Town Council contributed to the running of youth services and has contributed £70,000 capital to the new centre. He encouraged other town and parish councils to think if they could do anything to help."Increasingly county funding will have to be targeted at those in greatest need - if local communities want to retain more general provision - and I applaud them if they do - then we all need to be more imaginative and supportive.

"I want the county to help communities, just as we help with the fleet of 70 community mini buses that are operated by councils of community service and parish councils across the county," he said.

Councillor Perry also paid tribute to the commitment of council staff who were having to take on new and different roles. The demography and complexity of adult social care in particular mean that the services and management capacity were stretching the very best talent across different organisations. By expanding its services to other authorities it was offering a future in an organisation that was growing its businesses, growing its capacity and creating opportunities for promotion and personal development.